Leo helps City off to a flying start

ANDY CAMPBELL and Robert Earnshaw may have scored the goals that ensured Cardiff City kicked-off their 2002-03 campaign ith an opening-day win, but Lennie Lawrence was in no doubt as to who was the Bluebirds' hero.

ANDY CAMPBELL and Robert Earnshaw may have scored the goals that ensured Cardiff City kicked-off their 2002-03 campaign ith an opening-day win, but Lennie Lawrence was in no doubt as to who was the Bluebirds' hero.

"I thought Leo (Fortune-West) as outstanding. Without a shadow of a doubt, he was my man of the match," said the Bluebirds manager. This was probably the best game he's played for Cardiff since I took over as manager."

He may not be the most elegant of players, but Fortune-West's robust style had the Oldham defence in a spin. He seemed to win every ball in the air and his work-rate on a lush Boundary Park surface was nothing short of phenomenal.

No wonder Lawrence has already pencilled in Fortune-West's name on his team-sheet for tomorrow's home clash against Port Vale. "Leo won't be dropped for Tuesday," he smiled. It's Leo and 10 others."

Replacing Earnshaw, the darling of the Ninian Park faithful, with the ungainly Fortune-West was a gamble by Lawrence, but how it paid off. Earnshaw came on with 24 minutes to go, replacing Campbell, and he netted the killer second.

"I don't care who they are. I don't care how much they cost or if they're Welsh internationals, they can't all play," said Lawrence referring to his 22-man first team squad. "But they will all have a part to play.

"They will all get a share of the action, but they have to rely on me to manage them.

"Earnie has been a little behind in pre-season, but he got his goal today and I'm pleased for him."

Yet was Fortune-West's highly effective display at Oldham really a surprise? After all, when City went on that 14-match unbeaten run that cemented their place in the play-offs last season, Fortune-West was a regular - and a revelation -in City's three-man attack.

The former Rotherham player appeared to fall out of favour during pre-season as Lawrence tried to blend Peter Thorne, Campbell and Earnshaw. Some even doubted whether Fortune-West would be at Ninian Park for the 2002-03 season.

But the 31-year-old striker reminded everyone on Saturday that he has no intention of being sidelined.

"The 4-3-3 suits him," said Lawrence. "In a 4-4-2 he's got no chance because he'd be stuck out on the left or right wing. But he's got a chance with the way we play at the moment.

"I wasn't sure about him in pre-season but I think I made the right decision."

His performance even drew praise from Oldham manager Iain Dowie, once a combative striker himself. "Leo is a handful. He puts himself about and he's an honest pro," he said. "He wouldn't get any stick from me. I admire people who make the best of what they've got, and he does that.

"He's a good foil for the other strikers. Those who get the goals probably do so because of his hard work."

City were never going to repeat last season's extraordinary 7-1 victory at this ground.

Before the game Campbell, who scored a hat-trick in that match, said he thought there would only be one goal in this encounter and the former Middlesbrough man was proved right.

Despite being backed by 3,500 supporters, City started slowly and in the sixth minute

Matt Appleby worried goal-keeper Neil Alexander with his curling effort. But the visitors took control and, in the 21st minute, Campbell put them in front with a super goal.

After the break it was mainly Oldham as they endeavoured to wipe out City's lead, but Daniel Gabbidon and Chris Barker, playing alongside each other in the centre of the defence for the first time (Scott Young was missing with a back injury) were rock-solid, while Gary Croft had an excellent game at left-back.

On the left wing, former Bluebird Anthony Carss was giving City right-back Rhys Weston a difficult time and it came as a real surprise when Dowie took off Carss midway through the second half.

Although Oldham were dominating possession, it was Lawrence's men who put the ball in the net. With six minutes left Fortune-West outjumped Pogliacomi, the ball fell to Earnshaw, who hooked it into the empty net.

But Lawrence and the travelling support had to endure a tense finish. Referee Eddie Wolstenholme insisted on seven minutes of added time, caused mainly by a delay during the second half when members of the Oldham groundstaff were needed to fill in a sprinkler hole just outside the City penalty area.

Oldham substitute Lee Duxbury - who missed a sitter in the 86th minute - reduced the arrears with five minutes of added time remaining when Alexander, who had an otherwise excellent match, failed to hold a high ball. But City held on to ensure a perfect start to 2002-03.

"Our performance was all right considering it was the opening day," said a satisfied Lawrence afterwards. "The strikers got a goal each and the team worked well. We were expected to win convincingly because of last season's result. but it was never going to happen.

"At 2-0 we looked to have it sewn up, but then we had seven minutes of time added on and we lost our concentration. The last few minutes were hairy and we could have done without them, but it's nice to get that first win under our belt."